Tent Making

I have long been intrigued by the possibility of sustainable ministries - that is a ministry that can run without any outside donation. It started with me having a bit of an uneasy feeling about the whole idea of having to raise support to go to places like Nicaragua. I just felt a little bit funny about asking my friends for money to go to one of my favorite places in the world. Many people, especially non-Christians, will rally hard against the idea of monetary donations for one person to spend all that money on expensive plane tickets flying to remote places in the world. Others see it as a biblical mandate - to support those that have been called to go. In the world of ministry there seems to be a line dividing two types of people. On one side there is the Missionary and on the other side is the Supporter. One person makes money and the other person receives donations to do the work of God.

So, with my 1.5 semesters of seminary under my belt I have tried to look at this issue theologically and see what the Bible has to say. The most clarifying verses that I have found have been some from the missionary Paul.

Read: 1 Corinthians 9

I'm not going to do a thorough exegesis because it probably wouldn't be that good, and if anyone one is reading this it would probably be beneficial to look into it yourself. These are the conclusions I have come to through this, and other, reading.

In order to effectively and graciously minister to the body of Christ and spread the gospel:

• All followers of Christ are called to live missional lifestyles.
  
• Some are called into full time ministry that requires the financial support of the Church.
• Some are called to be tent-makers, supporting a life of ministry by their own vocation.

What I get really excited about, not because it is the only way of ministry, but because it seems to make a lot of sense in our current culture, is the idea of business as mission. Also called Mission Based Entrepreneurship, it takes a corporate (not as in corporation, but as in the opposite of individual) look at being a tent-maker. Mission Based Entrepreneurship takes many tent-makers and puts them in a secular for-profit business that has a gospel driven mission. It creates solid products and brings in money from the secular world to support Christ's mission of transforming lives and giving hope to a lost world.

I recently visited a Church that is driving this movement, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for it.


Click here to check out their website and watch a video explanation.

I miss this.

I never thought I was a huge fan of little kids until going to Nicaragua. Now I realize though, that there may be no other thing in my life that is more relaxing, encouraging, and uplifting than hanging out with some of these little kids. Their joy for life flows out in ways that I can not even express. This little clip is of one of my favorites - Yaya - saying thank you to her sponsor.